Odometer



March 24, 1931. H. A. TlT-rENsoR ODOMETER Filed Dec. 7, 1929 @MW Wy.

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY TITTENSOR, 0F FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO A C SPARK PLUG COM- IPANY, OF FLIN'I, MICHIGN, A COMPANY OF MICHIGAN ODOMETER Application led December 7, 1929. Serial YNo. 412,376.

This invention relates to measuring instruments and has been designed as an improvenient in odometer unit for use as a combined speedometer 4and odometer.

The invention is shown applied to that type of instrument having a conical speed cup and` an odometer employing internally positioned transfer mechanism.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the odometer Wheels. A further object is to provide an improved' support for the transfer' pinions. Another object is to provide for convenient assembly. @ther objects such as economy in production are also among the advantages to be obtained.

lin the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the instrument, parts being broken away and parts in section. Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the odometer mechanism partly in section. Figure 3 shows a detail in perspective. Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a modified form. Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the pinion carrier as used in the modified form shown in Figure 4.

Referring by reference characters to the drawing, numeral 7 is a die cast frame positioned Within casing, 9, the casing engaging a Hangs, 11, on stem, 13, of the frame.-

'lhe front of the casing is closed by an apertured dial plate, 15, a glass 17, these parts being held in position by a bezel, 2l. The frame, 7, has secured thereto a conical field plate, 23, within which rotates a magnet, 25, the magnet being rotated by a shaft, not shown, extending axially through the stem, 13, and driven by the usual fiexible speedometer driving shaft. These elements constitute no part of the invention. The speed cup, 27. is also conical and is located between the field plate, 23 and the magnet, 25. It is carried by a spindle, 29,- and retained from axial movement by a retainer, 3l, which may, if desired, be rotatably mounted about the axis of the spindle and have an extended end, 30,

connected to the usual zero biasing spring, 33.

The above is descriptive of the magnetic speedometer with Which it is proposed to use the novel odometer, although the odometer may, as Will be readily understood, be used with other speedometer mechanism. For the support of the odometer the frame is provided with spaced arms, 35 and 37. rFliese arms are apertured in alinement to carry a shaft, 39, the latter held by a retainer, 4l. A plurality of ligure wheels, 43, including a decimal Wheel, 43', are axially arranged and rotatable about shaft 39. T he decimal wheel is to be driven directly and the other odometer Wheels are driven from the decimal Wheel and from each other in sequence, as is usual in measuring instruments, by the use of Well-known transfer pinions. The present invention relates more particularly to the support oi' the transfer pinion carriers and the iigure Wheels. Assembled on shaft 39 is a series of die cast frame members or pinion carriers. One of these fra me members is shown in Figure 3 and designated by numeral 45. 'lliese carriers have hub portions, 47, apertured as at 49, to be received on shaft 39. From the hub the carrier extends radially as at 51, and is recessed as at 53 to house a conventional transfer pinion as at 55, rotatabl supported on a pin, 57. On one side of the iiody portion the hub has an axial extension circular in outline, as at59. This circular portion terminates in an end portion with flat surfaces, 61. On the opposite face of the hub there isa recess, 63, internally shaped with a flat surface to interit with the fiat surface, 6i, of an adjacent carrier hub. This construction will be clear from an inspection of Figure 2 and Figure 3. The ligure wheels, 43, are apertured to rotate on the circular flanges, 59. The wall surrounding the recess, d3, as shown in Figure 2, closely approaches the circular hub portion of the figure wheels but leaves sui'licient clearance for the free rotation of the figure wheels upon the portion, 59. lfVhen several carriers are nested together, together with the figure wheels rotatably mounted ou the surfaces, 59, the flatted inter-engaging surfaces keep the carriers from relative rotation and rotatably support the figure wheels in accurately spaced axial position. The carriers also support the transfer pinions in the correct position to engage ivith the teeth on internal peripheral surfaces of the several figure Wheels as is CFI usual in such construction. At the right end A of the, assembly is used a carrier, 45', which differs from' the intermediate carriers, L15. Tn

addition to rotatably suppoitirig the unitYV Afigure wheel'43 on itssurface, 59, it has an elongated hub portion, 60, in place ofthe construction of the intermediate carriers. Ttis upon this hub portion, 60, that the decimal ligure Wheel 43 is rotatablyv supported.' The hub portion of the' decimal figure vWheel is axially extended as at 65 and to it is secured a ratchet Wheel, 67, adapted to be driven by a paWl, 69, as shown in Figure 1. This paWl is reciprocated by any suitable driving mechanism associated with the driving shaft for the speedometer. This construction is not per se a part of this invention. The pawl 69 is shown as being retained and normally held against the ratchet by a spring member, 71.

At the othera end of the series of carriers there is substituted for the carrier shown in Figure 3, one, 45, having a circular hub portion 59 of greater length than the hub portion, 59, as

shown in figure 5. The extreme end of hub portion 59, of carrier 45T is provided.,ivith flat surfaces,r 73. This construction is lbest illustrated in the modified form shown in Figure 5. Flat surfaces, 73, are received Within grooves, 7 5in the supporting arms 35 and 37 of the frame. By this means the end carrying members may be slidably received in arms 35 and 37 and held from rotation rela.` tive thereto. Since bv'the engagement of the dat surfaces on the. adjacent faces of the carriers any relative rotation of the carriers isj prevented it will be seen that theseries of carriers is held from rotation and constitutes a shaft about which the figure Wheels may r0- tate and be driven. @n the hub portion, 59',

there is provided a sleeve, 77 engaging the arm, 35, and so dimensioned as to closely approach the figure Wheel of highest dimension.

This sleeve performs the function of the Wall,

surrounding the recess, 63,in case of the other figure Wheels.

In Figures 4 and 5 is illustrated a detail differing only in the manner of support employed for the transfer pinion. Tn this case, thelpinion, 557, is supported between the Walls of the recess of the carrier, 45, but the pincan be very rapidly and accurately assembled and that the figure Wheels may be given the necessary Yclearance for free rotation by the accurate fit of the carriers relative to each other.

l claim:

1. 1n an odometer, a series of figure Wheels in axial alinement,a series of carriers, said carriers having hubs in axial alinement, said figure Wheels being rotatably mounted on said carrier hubs, cooperating means on adjacent carriers to prevent relative rotation of said carriers, and means associated With a terminal carrier constructed to permit assembly and removal of said carrier radially and to prevent rotation thereof.

2. Tn an odometer, a series of carriers'having coaxial hubs, figure Wheels rotatable on. said hubs, adjacent hubs having inter-engaging parts, to prevent relative rotation, cooperating transfer mechanism carried by said wheels and said carriers, a support for an end carrier and cooperating parts on said end carrier and its support t'o prevent rotation of said carrier relative to said support and to provide for removal of said carrier from said support radially.

3. A transfer pinion-carrier for odometers comprising an apertured hub having on one side thereof a circular bearing for a figure Wheel and a terminally iiatted surface, and having on the other side ,a recess with a fiat surface, a radial extension from said hub, saidextension beingreeessed and' a transfer pinion'Y i'n said recess.

4. Tn an odometer, a frame having parallel arms, said arms having slots, a plurality of carriers inteielockedto prevent lrelative rotation, terminal carriers having at surfaces to slide into said arm slots whereby the series of carriers is held from rotation, said carriers having bearing surfaces for the rotary support of figure Wheels.

5. The invention defined by claim 4, together with transfer mechanism including transfer pinions mounted in said carriers and cooperating teeth carried by the figure Wheels.

ln testimony whereof l afix my signature.

HARRY A. TTTTENSOR.

ion is not apertured and the pivot pin, 57, C 

